"Not exactly vicious, Tony," I demurred when I had quelled this
exuberance, "merely animal spirits. Wildfire is a high-strung creature
requiring constant thought and attention and is consequently
interesting, besides which--"
Here a shriek and hoarse shouts as, by means of whip and curb and
spur, I swung the animal in question from the dangerous proximity of a
shop window and checked his impulse to walk on his hind legs.
"Scarcely a lady's pad, Peregrine!" grinned Anthony, as I came
perilously near upsetting a coster's barrow, to its owner's vociferous
indignation. "Egad, a four-footed devil warranted to banish every
other worry but himself!"
"Precisely," said I, when my steed, moderating his ardour, permitted
me coherent speech. "And this is the reason I ride him. No one mounted
on Wildfire can think of anything but Wildfire and this is sometimes a
blessing."
"How so, Perry?"
"Well, I am harassed of late by two obsessions--the memory of that
poor--drowned child--I cannot forget her face!"
"But, deuce take it, man--this was days and days ago."
"And the other is, strangely enough--Diana. The thought that I shall
meet her so soon--a nameless doubt--an indefinable dread--"
"Dread, Perry? Doubt? What the dooce d'ye mean?"
"That's the devil of it, Anthony--I--don't know. But I have a vague
fear--a presentiment, if you like. I feel as if there was a dreadful
something impending--a shadow--"
"Oh, pshaw, man! Shadow? Tush an' be damned to it! You're in a
devilish low state--indubitably stomach--"
Here further converse was ended for the time being by Wildfire taking
it into his head to snort and start, to prance and shiver at a large
man in velveteens and a leather hat, whereupon Velveteens backed
hastily and swore; Wildfire reared and plunged at him, whereupon
Velveteens dodged into a doorway, cursing vehemently; people, at a
safe distance, shouted; boys hooted; and then, having thus drawn
attention to himself, Wildfire trotted daintily on again, leaving
Velveteens spent and breathless with indignant cursings.
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